The sky darkens. Thunder grows louder. Suddenly, the rain comes down so hard you can barely see. Soon, water starts coming over the curb toward your house. Your weather radio crackles with warnings. And when it’s over, the stormwater has stopped just feet from your door. Close call! But then you wonder. How intense was […]
One third of Harris County is now impervious cover. According to the Harris County Infrastructure Resilience Team, green roofs are one of several tools that can help mitigate flooding by converting impervious cover back into green space. Also known as ‘vegetated roofs’ or ‘living roofs,’ they can reduce runoff by soaking up part of the rainfall […]
On October 28, Royal Pines flooded a neighbor on less than an inch of rain. Two months later, on December 29th, the same thing happened again. The video below provided by the homeowner shows the volume of water funneled across her property by the developer. This video and the previous one from October demonstrate the […]
On January 9, 2023, FEMA released a Simplified Procedures policy for Public Assistance grants to speed up recovery for applicants. Small projects are now defined as those up to $1 million. The new policy should reduce administrative burdens and enable communities to recover more quickly after presidentially declared events by streamlining documentation requirements. FEMA will […]
Harris County Commissioners Court approved a motion on 1/10/23 that will change the formula for scoring future flood projects. It gives two thirds of a potential project’s score to population density, building density and social vulnerability, but only 20% to flood risk and nothing to actual flood damage. Stacking the Deck The new formula could […]
Three areas in northwest Humble are in various stages of development. Parts or all of these areas flooded during Hurricane Harvey. The flooding was deep enough that reportedly one of the developers is not even going to try to raise the area. Instead, he said he will raise the homes 6-7 feet. Let’s hope that’s enough. The numbers […]
Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis has placed an item on the Commissioners Court agenda for 1/10/23 with far reaching ramifications for flood control in Harris County. It would change the way every future project is prioritized using a formula that gives almost half the weight to population and building density. Meanwhile, it ignores the amount […]
The second leg of the Houston Parks Board’s San Jacinto River West Fork Greenway is taking shape nicely. Contractors have apparently finished concrete work and landscaping. It can now be hiked and biked. Route of San Jacinto West Fork Greenway The first leg of the three-mile route starts near the entrance to River Grove Park […]
The excavation rate of a sixth detention pond on Harris County Flood Control District’s (HCFCD) Woodridge Village property increased during the last month of 2022. That brought the total for the year to 73,745 cubic yards of soil removed under Sprint Sand and Gravel’s Excavation and Removal (E&R) Contract. The reported total at the end […]
According to its new website, the controversial Laurel Springs RV Resort near Lakewood Cove plans opening in January 2023. Recent aerial photos show workers putting the finishing touches on the “resort.” Even though the City of Houston permitted 182 spaces, the website advertises 226. The website also advertises “long-term” stays, something Humble ISD taxpayers expressed […]